The Buddhism Merit Road of Siamese in Malaysia : An Analysis of Thai and Malaysian Cultural Common Heritage

Abstract

This research is aimed at identifying the identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese, indicating the pattern and method to inherit identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese, discovering the role of public sector both Malaysia and Thailand to promote identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese in Northern States of Malaysia, and determining the relationship road of identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese in Northern States of Malaysia, another race of Malaysian who worship Buddhism and Thai local in Southern Provinces of Thailand. This study was qualitative research method.

Based on the analyses of data, it was found that Siamese communities in Northern States of Malaysia had specific characteristic which different from other communities in Malaysia. The Siamese communities in Northern States of Malaysia had crucial identities in several dimension compounding food dimension; attire dimension; language dimension; housing dimension; custom, culture and believe dimension; and religion dimension. Additionally, the cultural heritages based on Buddhism of Siamese in Northern States of Malaysia had several eminent performances such as Embed Boundary Stones Blessing or Fang LuukNimit, triple circumambulation, ordination, made merit and gave alms to the monks, the Tenth Lunar Month, ChakPhrafestival, Forest-robe presenting ceremony and Kathin ceremony or annual robe-presenting ceremony. Moreover, the pattern and method to inherit identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese in Northern States of Malaysia was able to be divided into two pattern; 1) direct inheritance and 2) indirect inheritance. Accordingly, the role of public sector both Malaysia and Thailand to promote identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese in Northern States of Malaysia had similarity in holistic performance but difference in particular detail. The highlight roles were presented as Buddhism affairs promotion, custom and cultural promotion, and educative promotion.

Furthermore, the relationship road of identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese in Northern States of Malaysia, another race of Malaysian who worship Buddhism, and Thai local in Southern Provinces of Thailand was found that there were several different roads. The condition for relationship of identity and cultural heritage based on Buddhism of Siamese and Thai local in Southern Provinces had various stipulations such as similar religion, common history, likeness social and culture, relationship network, and leaning process provision.